Trap



` JOHN SKARZYNSKI, OF-SO'UTH AMBY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR JOHN SMOLIENSKI, OF SOUTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

or ONE-HALF 'ro TRAP.

yToaZZ lwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN SKAnzYNsKI, a citizen ofPoland, residing at South Amboy, county ofy Middlesex, and State of New Jersey, .have invented certain'new and useful Improvements ,in Traps, ofY which the following is a specification. y Y Y This invention relates to traps intended more particularly for use in catching mice or rates and it has for Van object to provide a simple and inexpensive trap which will operate efficiently and which will not be liable to get out of order.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of,the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. y

Figure 1 of the drawings isa longitudinal vertical section of a trap constructed according to my invention, the cover and its flange and several other parts being shown broken.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, several parts being shown broken.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the trap, the cover being shown broken.

As here shown my improved trap comprises an oblong rectangular box having a bottom 10, side walls 11, and end walls 12, the top of the box being formed by a relatively short fixed top plate 13 and a hinged trap door 14 in front thereof which extends from the front of the box about twothirds of the length thereof. This trap door 14 is hinged midway between opposite sides thereof by means of hinge pintles 15 and 16 fixed to opposite ends thereof and bearing in the end walls of the box, the rear pintle 16 extending under the fixed top plate 13. This pintle 16 has a cranked portion 17 which extends vertically downward when the door is in its horizontal or closed position and has attached thereto the upper end* of a tension spring 18 whose lower end is fixed to a hook 19 on the rear wall of the box, this spring holding the trap door on its horizontal position.

Arranged above this trap door is a hinged cover member adapted to work automatically in unison with the trap door inversely l Specication of Letters Iatent. Application ledll'une 5, 1920. Serial No. 386,667.V

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thereto, closing downward asthe trap door swings open and opening upward as the trap door closes, maintaining its raisedl or opened position 4as long as the trap door is Y closed.Y VThis cover is shown at 20 and is `hinged at its rear end on a rod21 extending 23 extending around the front and sides thereof.

This cover 20 is normally held in a position inclining upwardly from the hinge end thereof by means of an oval cam 25 which is fixed on the rear pintle 16 adjacent the trap door 14, and engages the cover 20 a short distance in, in front of its hinge rod 21, the door being spaced at its rear end from the plate a suiiicient distance to accommodate the cam, the cam being so arranged on pintle 16 as' to assume its upright or operative position when the trap door 14 is horizontal. The top platemay have an upstanding flangel 26 extending along its front edge between the brackets 22.

In order to reduce to a minimum the force necessary to swing the cover 2O upwardly to open position the latter is provided with a rearward extension 27 on which is mounted a counterweight 28, which balances the greater part of the weight of the door.

In the use of the trap a suitable bait is placed on the trap door 14 at the rear end thereof. When the animal walks on the trap door in the endeavor to reach the bait the door swings to one side or the other and the animal falls into the box. As the door swings the cam 25 moves away from the cover and the latter closes down. When the door 14 swings back to its closed position under the tension of spring 18 the cam 25 engages the cover and raises the other. I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as Vnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. An animal trap comprising a box, a trap door hinged in the top of said box, means yieldingly holding said trap door in closed position, and a cover above said trap door adapted to operate in unison with said trap door inversely thereto.

2. An animal trap comprising a box, a trap door hinged in the top of said box reraise and support said cover as the doorv closed position, a cover above said trap door,

andmeans carried by said door adapted to swings to 'closed position.

'3, An animal trap comprising a box,;a trap door hinged inthe top of said box resilient meansrholding saidv trap door in closed position, a cover above said trap door, and` means carried by said door adapted to raise and support said cover as the door swingstoclosed position, said means Cornprising a cam fixed to the hinge pintles of the'door.

4.An animal Vtrap comprising' a boX, a trap door hinged in the top of said box, mid- Wa'y'between its sides, a spring holding said trap door Vin closed position, a cover hinged above said trap door transversely thereto, a cam upon the hinge pintles `of the trap door adapted to raise and support said cover, Y

and a countervveight" partly balancing said cover. Y Y

5. An animal trapV Comprising a box, a trap door hinged in the top of said box inid- Way between its sides, one of the hinge pintles of the trap door having a cranked portion disposed at right angles to the door, a.

tension spring connected to said cranked portion of the hinge pintle, a 'cover hinged transversely to the trap door at the end thereof to which is secured' the said pintle and disposed at a distance abovevthe said trap door, a depending Harige extending around the free end and the tvvo Sides of said cover, a cam upon the said pintle adapted tosupport Vsaid cover in a position inclining upwardlyrfrorn its hinge end, Yand a Vcounter- Weight partially balancing `the said cover.

In testimony whereof I have afxedrny signature. Y Y Y JOHN SKARZYNSKI. 

